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Independent End-point Assessor: Textile Care Operative
The Textile Care Operative Apprenticeship, which is our industry specific standard, is facing a lack of independent end point assessors (IEPA) so we are reaching out to the wider laundry community to ask for your help and commitment to supporting those starting out in their careers.
Skills and Education Group are looking to recruit at least one additional IEPA as soon as possible. Please get in touch with us if you have:
• relevant experience of working in the textile
care sector, in a managerial or consultative
capacity
• maintained active involvement in the industry
within the last five years.
Can you help?
Skills & Education Group are currently recruiting independent end-point assessors (IEPAs) on a flexible, self-employed basis. As an IEPA you would be responsible for carrying out end-point assessment activities under the conditions, timescales and arrangements set in accordance with the assessment plan for the apprenticeship standard.
This role provides an excellent opportunity for you to develop your skills as an end-point assessor and to provide an important contribution to the delivery of quality apprenticeship standards for our sector.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600
TSA launches #LaundryWithValues diversity survey
Survey will take snapshot of the industry’s attitude to itself and matters of diversity
The Textile Services Association (TSA) has teamed up with Brands with Values, an organisational culture experience company, to launch the Laundry with Values survey. This is aimed at discovering how the commercial laundry industry perceives itself and what values it holds, with a particular focus on inclusion.
Brands with Values has developed a survey methodology that can help organisations to understand the attitudes and values of their employees, called the Culture Decoder. It is a simple three question, values-based assessment, tried and tested by FTSE 500 companies, which asks respondents to pick their answer from a specially chosen list of words.
The study will analyse how employees perceive the culture of their current organisation, which values are most important to them and their overall perceptions of the culture of the laundry industry.
The TSA hopes to get responses from hundreds of laundry employees at all levels to ensure everyone, from owners to factory staff, is represented in the survey results. This can be achieved by promoting it within companies and by building awareness by discussing it online with the hashtag #LaundryWithValues.
“The importance of these issues to the laundry industry has been increasing, as it has within society as a whole,” says David Stevens, Chief Executive of the TSA. “This survey will help the industry to lead the way and continue with the work it’s already doing by setting a benchmark that it can measure itself against in the future.”
The survey will run until for several weeks. The results will then be analysed, and preliminary findings will be presented at the National Congress of the TSA on the 10th November, to be held at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club. The survey is completely anonymous and will only be analysed on an industry basis. The information will remain private and no other companies or organisations will be given access to it.
The survey can be found here and further information can be found on the TSA’s website.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600
Christeyns launches sustainable water technology in partnership with Veride
6 October 2021
In a joint venure with engineering company Veride, hygiene chemical specialist Christeyns launches HydRO, a new technology to help professional laundries reduce fresh water consumption.
With growing awareness and responsibility around water use and water quality and stricter effluent regulations coming into force in several European countries, water and wastewater management practices are of the upmost importance in the commerical laundry sector. HydRO technology is expected to play a vital role in decreasing the environmental impact of industrial washing and contribute in lower water-related costs for customers.
Typically four to ten litres of water are used per kg linen in an industrial laundry setting, HydRO can reduce fresh water consumption by at least 80%. In combination with effective rainwater collection, the technology enables the reduction of fresh water consumption to only 0.5 litre per kg of linen.
“Empowering our customers to massively reduce their water consumption and effluent bills, to save energy and reduce their CO2 impact significantly, that’s what this partnership with Veride is all about,” comments Alain Bostoen, CEO Christeyns.
The joint venture offers a modular system for water recovery, treatment and recycling, collecting polluted streams of wastewater from the washhouse to purify and reuse it. In short, a closed-loop water supply reclaiming at least 80% of the process water and transforming it into fresh water with all substances such as micro-plastics, heavy metals and bacteria filtered out.
“As water recycling presents a huge opportunity for the laundry industry, we need to redefine water management for sustainable growth. We look forward to offering our customers this new technology which will have a positive impact across all aspects of their business,” adds Christeyns UK Engineering Manager Peter Jackson.
This water-saving system is a plug-and-play solution delivered in container units customised to target wastewater quantity. The HydRO technology makes all additional treatment such as iron removal, softening, reverse osmosis and wastewater treatment obsolete. In addition, a heat-exchanger is no longer required as the reclaimed water has a temperature of 40°C.
HydRO will be the latest addition to Christeyns’ Engineering portfolio, driving innovation in the laundry arena across the UK and Ireland. Veride and Christeyns co-own the brand, each having a 50% stake. The HydRO technology has already been implemented in over 10 industrial laundries in the BeNeLux with great success and will now be available in the UK.
For further information visit:
TSA warns of ‘alarming’ energy price rises for commercial laundries
Price increases could hit hospitality, healthcare and industrial customers
The TSA (Textile Services Association) says that the rapidly rising energy prices will have a significant impact on laundries and describes the increases as ‘alarming’. They come at a time when commercial laundries are struggling to meet demand, in the face of staff shortages and rising costs in raw materials, linen and wages. They could result in even more pressure on prices for commercial laundry customers in the hospitality, healthcare and industrial markets.
“Energy typically amounts to around 10% of a laundry’s cost base – but the increases we are facing are off the scale,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “They make the previous record highs of 2004 pale into insignificance.”
For example, in March 2021 the cost per therm of gas was around 42p. Today the cost has breached 160p. Similarly, electricity in March was around £54 per MWh. Today’s settlement price is around £140 per MWh. “It doesn’t end there,” says Stevens. “The first week of September saw sixteen settlement (half hourly) periods with pricing in excess of £1000 per MWh. Nine of these were above £3000 per MWh. The highest was an incredible £4000 MWh.”
To make matters worse, currently the energy network is in a low demand phase – winter will see more demand and the pressure will mount on an already limited supply. There are a variety of reasons for the dramatic increases. Key is a lack of supply throughout Europe, combined with a boom in demand from Asia, especially for LNG (Liquid Natural Gas). In addition, recent poor weather and lack of wind has meant that renewable energy sources have been hit.
Fox Energy is one of the specialist suppliers working with commercial laundries. Paul Dilley, a director at Fox, says, “The energy markets are reaching extraordinary highs with no sign of returning to normal any time soon. Any business renewing a contract in the next six months may be at a significant disadvantage compared to those that have fixed contracts that were set when the market was substantially lower, even just a few months ago.
“We have been working with the laundry sector for many years and we have never seen anything like this before. Sadly, it’s a trend we may see continuing through this winter season.”
The TSA is recommending that all laundries should make urgent allowances for these increases and contact their supplier or broker for advice. “This is especially important for those on flexible energy contracts or that have existing fully fixed energy contracts due to expire within the next 6 months,” says Stevens.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600
Update from the TSA
UK textile giant joins BITC network to get serious about sustainability
1 September 2021
Leading UK textile services provider Johnson Service Group PLC (JSG) is pleased to be joining the Business in the Community (BITC) network as of 1st September 2021.
BITC is the largest and longest established business-led membership organisation dedicated to responsible business. Founded by HRH The Prince of Wales 40 years ago, the organisation works with their members to continually improve their responsible business practice, leveraging their collective impact for the benefit of communities. Membership of BITC is not just a badge, but a public commitment to a better way of doing business.
Chief Executive Officer for JSG, Peter Egan, said of the membership, “Within JSG we have a strong history of undertaking individual projects that are aimed at addressing the environmental and social impacts of some of our core business activities. We’re now refreshing what we do by undertaking an exercise internally to define what sustainability means to us as a group and planning thereafter a strategic programme on our next steps. Our new relationship with BITC will help to support our mission and enable us to effectively address the environmental and social impacts of our operations.”
To support the move towards a more joined up approach across JSG, the company recently appointed a Head of Sustainability, Alexandra Brennan. Alexandra, who brings with her over 15 years of experience in developing and embedding sustainability strategies, is currently conducting a full review of the company’s material impacts prior to a refreshed strategy launch in early 2022.
Executive Director of Membership for BITC, Nick Diamond, added, “We are delighted to welcome Johnson Service Group to the Prince’s Responsible Business Network. In joining Business in the Community, they become part of a growing network of progressive businesses who look beyond the profit motive, who want to make a difference within society, and who are prepared to collaborate to bring about change. Johnson Service Group are demonstrating their commitment to addressing their social and environmental impacts, and we look forward to working with them as they refresh their wider sustainability strategy.”
For more information please contact sustainability@jsg.com
New regional manager for Christeyns as laundry professional retires after 20 years in the business
17 August 2021
Christeyns’ Regional Manager, Keith Stone, is retiring from the business and moving to British Overseas Territory St Helena after 20 years’ service. Russ Pannell has been appointed to take over the role.
Keith Stone has taken the decision to retire from Christeyns and move with his wife to the island of St Helena. Keith joined Bradford based Christeyns in September 2001 and was a key member of the Southern team, working initially as an account manager, then Deputy Manager and latterly Area Manager for the South East.
Stepping into the role is Russ Pannell, who joined Christeyns in 2016 and has a long career in the laundry and hygiene sector. Russ started out as a washer extractor maintenance engineer before moving to the hygiene chemical side where he has held several senior operational management roles.
“I am looking forward to the new challenges this role will offer,” states Russ. “I worked closely with Keith for several years and he will be a hard act to follow but I hope to achieve continued sales growth, developing my team and providing a first class service.”
Russ continues: “The market has been through a lot of challenges in the past 18 months but fortunately we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and customers are getting busier by the day.”
Operations Director Justin Kerslake comments on the appointment, “Popular with his peers, Russ shows immense enthusiasm and is dedicated to customer service. He will be a strong addition to the CUK management structure.”
In his spare time, Russ is a keen amateur yachtsman often out sailing on the River Medway and the English Channel. He also cycles and plays badminton.
Christeyns UK is part of the global Christeyns group producing innovative solutions both chemical and technical for the laundry and commercial hygiene sectors across the UK and Ireland.
For further information visit:
Christeyns UK ups green credentials with new Project Terra
6 August 2021
Already known for its green credentials, hygiene chemical and engineering specialist Christeyns UK is driving the company’s environmental agenda from Board level down.
“The impact our industry has on the environment is significant,” states Justin Kerslake, Operations Director. “As a company, Christeyns is focused on doing all it can to reduce these environmental impacts and sees the challenges facing the industry as an opportunity to provide cost effective solutions to help customers stay ahead.”
Christeyns has invested significantly into developing efficient laundry systems, incorporating both equipment and chemicals, and is guided by the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
At its own facilities, the newly introduced Terra Project (meaning earth) looks into every aspect of Christeyns business across all its UK sites, in relation to sustainability and the environment.
Around £500,000 has been invested in equipment and training to ensure facilities are as modern and efficient as possible. This included installing low energy LED lighting replacement and plans are under way to install a solar panel system.
Raw materials are purchased from carefully selected suppliers, sustainability being a key requirement when choosing ingredients. Recent developments have also led to the introduction of concentrated formulations that reduce the number of deliveries and hence carbon footprint. A review of the company’s waste stream is underway to strive for Zerowaste to landfill across all sites and this has recently been achieved at the Warrington plant.
Most recently the firm switched energy supply for the main Bradford plant to achieve net Carbon Zero and changed vehicle supplier to facilitate electric or hybrid vehicle choices for the high mileage drivers.
Wash-out water from both customer sites and the firm’s manufacturing facilities, is recovered and reused and in 2019 this saved 396,000 litres of mains water. This practice also reduces the amount of effluent being deposited into the environment.
“The drive to sustainability isn’t as simple as just moving to greener sources of energy, we must learn to consume less in general,” adds Justin. “Remote working in a flexible environment is encouraged, telematics for delivery vehicles and super concentrated products are all in development to reduce CO2 emissions.”
Increased focus at Board level will add impetus to Christeyns’ strategic goals on tackling environmental issues within the sectors in which it operates and in the wider community.
For further information visit: